Bill Hayes (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Hayes
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Hayes in 1976
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| Born |
William Foster Hayes III
June 5, 1925 Harvey, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | January 12, 2024 (aged 98) |
| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1948–2023 |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary Hobbs
(m. 1947; div. 1969)Susan Seaforth Hayes
(m. 1974) |
| Children | 5 |
William Foster Hayes III (born June 5, 1925 – died January 12, 2024) was an American actor and singer. He was famous for his song "The Ballad of Davy Crockett", which became a number one hit in 1955.
Later in his career, Bill Hayes became well-known to a new generation. This happened when he started playing the character Doug Williams on the TV show Days of Our Lives in 1970. He played this role for many years, until 2023.
Contents
Early Life and Amazing Career
Bill Hayes was born in Harvey, Illinois, on June 5, 1925. He went to DePauw University and studied music and English.
In 1943, during World War II, Bill joined the U.S. Navy Air Corps. He trained to be a fighter pilot. The war ended just before he finished his training. He received two medals for his service. After the war, he returned to college and graduated in 1947.
Music Star and Broadway
In the early 1950s, Bill Hayes was a singer on the TV show Your Show of Shows. In 1955, he had a huge hit song called "The Ballad of Davy Crockett." This song was so popular that it was number one on the Billboard music charts for five weeks! It sold over two million copies.
Bill also performed on Broadway in a musical called Me and Juliet in 1953. He had other popular songs too, like "The Berry Tree."
Becoming a TV Legend
In 1970, Bill Hayes joined the cast of the popular TV show Days of Our Lives. He played Doug Williams, a character who started as a former convict and a lounge singer.
Doug Williams became a very popular character. Bill Hayes played him on and off for many years, returning to the show in 1986, 1987, 1993, 1996, and then regularly from 1999 until 2023. His character had many exciting storylines, including one where he seemed to disappear but later returned!
In 2017, a documentary about Bill Hayes's life, called World by the Tail, was released. He also made a special appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2017.
Personal Life and Family
Bill Hayes earned a master's degree in music from Northwestern University. He also got a Ph.D. in education from West Virginia University.
Bill Hayes was married to Mary Hobbs from 1947 to 1969, and they had five children. In 1974, he married his Days of Our Lives co-star, Susan Seaforth Hayes.
Their relationship was so loved by fans that they appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 1976. They are the only soap opera stars to have this honor! In 2005, Bill and Susan wrote a book together about their lives called Like Sands Through the Hourglass.
Bill Hayes passed away on January 12, 2024, at the age of 98.
Acting Roles
Bill Hayes had many acting roles throughout his career. Here are some of his notable appearances:
- Days of Our Lives (as Doug Williams): 1970–1984; 1986–1987; 1993; 1994; 1996; 1999–2023
- Frasier (TV Series) – Sully (2002)
- Matlock (TV Series) – George Dutton (1988)
- The Cardinal (Film) – Frank (1964)
- Stop, You're Killing Me (Film) – Chance Whitelaw (1952)
Awards and Honors
Bill Hayes received many awards and nominations for his acting and contributions to entertainment:
- He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in 1975 and 1976.
- He won the Soapy Award for Actor of the Year in 1977.
- Daytime TV Magazine readers voted him Best Actor in 1973, 1976, 1977, and 1978.
- Photoplay Magazine gave him the Gold Medal Award for Favorite Daytime Male Star in 1977 and 1978.
In 2016, the Bill Hayes Prize in Musical Theater was created to honor his work. On April 29, 2018, Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes received Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. This recognized their amazing careers in television.
See also
- Doug Williams and Julie Olson
- Supercouple
